Power Loading - Bunk Trailer

[ndfinfan]

Just wondered how many of you power load your boat vs. just pulling it on the bunks with dock line far enough to hook the winch line to the bow eye hook? Upgraded this year to a 19ft Lund that is 3 feet longer and 800 pounds heavier than the old boat. When fishing by myself with the old boat, loading never an issue. Rarely had to hop back in the boat and power load unless it was really windy. Thinking tho with this bigger heavier boat will need to power load every time. Which when you have a partner along is pretty simple...especially if they know boating well enough to let you know how close you are to the bow stop! Anyway, just curious how others load their boats when fishing alone...thanks gents!

 

[RustyTackleBox]

drotto boat latch and you won't load any other way again

 

[ndfinfan]

^Looks nice Rusty...easy to install?

 

[RustyTackleBox]

take the roller bolt out and put 2 washers in and the drotto... i extended my strap about 18" backed the boat down the ramp let it float out to the end and pulled back to the top of the ramp to install it... it's slick

 

[MULEDEER]

I agree with Rusty the Drotto is the best piece of equipment I have ever bought I fish alone with the drotto I can load fine keep in mind power loading doesn’t mean hammer down

 

[ndfinfan]

take the roller bolt out and put 2 washers in and the drotto... i extended my strap about 18" backed the boat down the ramp let it float out to the end and pulled back to the top of the ramp to install it... it's slick

Nice...will look into it...thanks!

 

[SupressYourself]

Keep the front half or third of your bunks out of the water and keep the hammer down until you hit the stop.*
It takes some practice, but you'll get a feel for how wet your trailer needs to be, and where the stop is.
When you get it right, the boat will ease up the bunks slowly, the bow will be right up against the stop, and your boat will be far enough out of the water that it won't float sideways while you reach over, hook it, and winch the 2 cranks of slack out.

...Or what Rusty said. I'm sure they're nice.


*Disclaimer: I do not have a fancy sparkle boat and have been known to jump ice bergs with it.

 

[SDMF]

18.5' glass boat, I leave the front 6" or so of the middle bunks out of the water, drive on, then drive out, almost never hook the front. Did the same w/my previous 18.5' Crestliner, and 17.5' Ranger before that. I almost always put the truck in 4WD and EASE into the throttle to pull up the ramp.

Caveat, I don't think I've ever tried to load alone in the Missouri or any other strong current, it's just worked out that I have a partner along on the Mo. Devils Lake in the summer I fish/load-unload by myself probably 50% of the time.

 

[ndfinfan]

18.5' glass boat, I leave the front 6" or so of the middle bunks out of the water, drive on, then drive out, almost never hook the front. Did the same w/my previous 18.5' Crestliner, and 17.5' Ranger before that. I almost always put the truck in 4WD and EASE into the throttle to pull up the ramp.

Caveat, I don't think I've ever tried to load alone in the Missouri or any other strong current, it's just worked out that I have a partner along on the Mo. Devils Lake in the summer I fish/load-unload by myself probably 50% of the time.

Thanks man...I'll have to experiment a little with the bunks...try to find that sweet spot...on calm days!

 

[Bfishn]

One tip is to back your trailer down in the water to get the bunks completely wet and then pull back out to where the trailer needs to be. Boat slides way easier on the wet bunks, should never be a need to crank boat on once you figure out how far to put in trailer.

 

[SDMF]

If the boat doesn't feel solidly planted on the trailer, if the back end feels "floaty", you're too deep, don't pull out like that.

 

[BDub]

One tip is to back your trailer down in the water to get the bunks completely wet and then pull back out to where the trailer needs to be. Boat slides way easier on the wet bunks, should never be a need to crank boat on once you figure out how far to put in trailer.

This is the way to go! It works.

 

[Rowdie]

^^^^THIS^^^^ Its called dunking the trailer.

 

[reddevilwoodsman]

One tip is to back your trailer down in the water to get the bunks completely wet and then pull back out to where the trailer needs to be. Boat slides way easier on the wet bunks, should never be a need to crank boat on once you figure out how far to put in trailer.

It's the only way to load a boat on a bunk trailer. It makes it extremely easy to drive right up to the front roller every time with very little throttle.

 

[walleyeman_1875]

One note from my past experience. Take a look at where the robots on your hull line up. My last boat was a 01 pro v 1900. For some damn reason the kind engineers thought it would be smart to line up the rivots with the bunks. After 8 years of loading the boat as described above, numerous rivotbheads where wore smooth and taking on water. Thankfully kind warranty was in a good mood and helped me out a fair amount.

With th my current pro v, I’m very cautious about leaving the bunks too far out. Ideal is when you have someone to back in the trailer. They backnit in far enough to float the boat to the match. Then pull out just far enough to line up the ass end.

 

[TFX 186]

ndfin,
If your not tight on money, get a Drotto and don't look back. Dive up until it latches,drive away. Back in and unlatch it, drive away. No leaning over your trolling motor on the front to hook up or unhook. Works great for one person unloading or two people unloading.
Love mine. Have fun experimenting with that new boat!

Fish On!

 

[shorthairsrus]

power load with my previous bunk and now with a roller. you just learn the ramp if its steep or not ---- base that on how far your going to back in. i always lean over and snap the safety on ( of course the roller is a must). My dad never put on a safety. come up to the trailer little juice bump lean over hook to hook and the old lady times it perfect she is moving up the ramp. No sota or scon hesitating

The biggest challenge --- when the big waves are at your back ---- and your bobbing - make sure your old lady is on top of things when she backs in --- dont hit the post to hard --- bump - you should be trimmed to the point your motors out latch -- thumps up. I have seen some real bad deals when wind blowing from the stern.

 

[ndfinfan]

ndfin,
If your not tight on money, get a Drotto and don't look back. Dive up until it latches,drive away. Back in and unlatch it, drive away. No leaning over your trolling motor on the front to hook up or unhook. Works great for one person unloading or two people unloading.
Love mine. Have fun experimenting with that new boat!

Fish On!

Thanks TFX...yea reading little more about the Drotto last night...seems like a no brainer for less than $300...will probably order one...looks like simple install as well.

 

[RustyTackleBox]

One note about the drotto's i have not had it happen to me but heard stories of other people using them... don't mess with another guys drotto at the ramp because you're curious, you can close the latch and the guy will just bang into it when he tries to load his boat... i am going to be taking the handle off mine and leaving it in the truck when I'm on the water

 

[ndfinfan]

Makes sense Rusty...now that you have used it for a while is there any difference in the position of the handle when the latch is open or closed...just so a guy could tell as he's getting ready to load?